By Emily Bryson York Tribune reporter10:36 a.m. CDT, July 15, 2011

Dominick’s, the Chicago-based grocer, is looking for a new leader. The chain’s parent company, Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway, announced the resignation of Dominick’s President Don Keprta Thursday. Dominick’s CFO Brian Baer will serve as acting president.

Safeway did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.

“Don has contributed significantly to the Dominick’s stores,” Safeway Chairman and Chief Executive Steve Burd said in a statement. “His commitment and innovation helped the stores evolve to best serve the Chicagoland customers. We are fortunate that he has produced a team that is prepared to continue to build on our current momentum.”

Safeway has struggled along with the rest of the traditional grocery business in an increasingly competitive environment, as prices have risen on soaring commodity costs. In the first quarter, however, Safeway reported its first same-stores sales increased 3.5 percent, leading Janney analyst Jonathan Feeney to describe the company as “better equipped than most of its traditional competition to weather a tough consumer environment.”

Local-area rival Jewel-Osco, owned by Minneapolis-based SuperValu, has been closing stores in 2011.

Serving as president since 2005, Keprta is credited with expanding the chain, remodeling stores and revamping operating standards and metrics.

Baer joined Safeway in 2001 as vice president of finance in the company’s Phoenix division. He was named group vice president of finance planning & analysis for company’s corporate office in 2004, and became CFO for Dominick’s in 2008.

Before joining Safeway, Baer worked with the Marriott Corp. for more than 12 years in financial management, operations, corporate finance and real estate development.